Is It Safe to Return to Egypt?

While the situation has been iffy at times and periodic political unrest in certain spots probably won't disappear soon, new developments suggest it's okay to go as long as you take certain precautions.

There sure is a lot of pent-up demand for Egypt right now. Within the past couple of weeks I've received more than a dozen emails from readers itching to go this spring and asking whether I think it's safe. I've been replying that, if it were me, I'd go. While the situation has been iffy at times and periodic political unrest in certain spots probably won't disappear anytime soon, earlier this month the U.S. State Department replaced its Egypt travel warning—which was advising people to avoid the country—with this Egypt Travel Alert, which says it's okay to go as long as you take certain precautions, such as avoiding demonstrations and locations where crowds gather. If it were me, I'd go now in order to take advantage of the relatively empty tombs, temples, hotels, and Nile cruise boats, and consequent low prices.

One Condé Nast Traveler reader now headed to Egypt this spring is Sandy Collins. She wrote asking if there was an Egypt travel planner I'd recommend who could ensure that her trip would be safe and rewarding, and I advised her to speak with Rami Girgis at Abercrombie & Kent. For the rest of you wondering whether Egypt should be in your travel plans right now, here's the comment that Sandy posted here after her research:

"We just spoke with Rami about our upcoming trip to Egypt that he is arranging for my husband and I and we cannot wait to go! We originally were only going to Israel and Jordan because I was afraid of the conditions in Egypt. Rami listened carefully to our concerns, questions, and made us feel very comfortable and we are now going on a dream trip which includes Egypt and a Nile cruise. Rami knows Egypt like the back of his hand and he has assured us our guide will be like our "guardian angel" while we are in Egypt. Rami is very responsive to our questions and we could not have been more pleased in dealing with him. We just wish he was going with us! We will post again after return. Wendy—thank you for referring us to Rami!"